Mamá cumple cien años (1979)

Director:

Carlos Saura

Writer:

Carlos Saura (story)

Release Date:

September 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Fantasy

Plot:

Ana is alive and married with Antonio; they arrive in the manor in the countryside of Spain where she worked as a nanny many years ago...

Plot Keywords:

Tragicomedy | Number In Title

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 3 wins

Cast

Geraldine Chaplin	...	Ana
Amparo Muñoz	...	Natalia
Fernando Fernán Gómez	...	Fernando
Norman Briski	...	Antonio
Rafaela Aparicio	...	Mamá
Charo Soriano	...	Luchi
José Vivó	...	Juan
Ángeles Torres	...	Carlota
Elisa Nandi	...	Victoria
Rita Maiden	...	Solange
Monique Ciron	...	Anny
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
José Luis López Vázquez	...	José?

Also Known As:

Mamá cumple 100 años (Spain) (alternative spelling)
Mama Turns 100 (USA)
Maman a cent ans (France)
Mamma compie cent'anni

Runtime:

Argentina:92 min | Spain:95 min | USA:100 min

Country:

Spain | France

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Not Rated | Argentina:X (original rating) | Argentina:18 (re-rating) | Australia:M | Chile:18

Filming Locations:

Torrelodones, Madrid, Spain

Company:

Elías Querejeta Producciones Cinematográficas S.L.

Movie Connections:

References The Brothers Karamazov (1958)

Soundtrack:

El dos de mayo

A Surrealistic Dark Comedy

Ana (Geraldine Chaplin) is alive and married with Antonio (Norman Briski); they arrive in the manor in the countryside of Spain where she worked as a nanny many years ago, for the centennial birthday of the matriarch (Rafaela Aparicio). In their reunion, she finds that Jose died three years ago; Juan (José Vivó) left his wife Luchy (Charo Soriano); Fernando (Fernando Fernán Gómez) is still living with his mother and unsuccessfully trying to fly a hang glider; and the three little girls are grown-up. Further, she discovers that the dysfunctional family is completely broken, and Luchy in embezzling mother's money. When Juan arrives for the celebration, he plots with Fernando and Luchy to kill the mother to get the inheritance. Meanwhile, Antonio has a brief affair with Natalia (Amparo Muñoz).

"Mamá Cumple Cien Años" is a surrealistic dark comedy that uses the characters of "Ana y los Lobos" and Antonio from "Elisa, Vida Mía". Again, Carlos Saura uses a political allegory with his characters: the omnipresent and omnipotent mother is still the old Spain; however, the children have grown, Lucy becomes a greedy woman and Juan is gone. Further, she is betrayed by her beloved sons. There are certainly many other political elements for those familiarized with the Spanish history. The beauty of the former Miss Spain (1973) and Miss Universe (1974) Amparo Muñoz is astonishing. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Mamãe Faz 100 Anos" ("Mother is 100 Year Old")